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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

State is Reviewing Duke Energy Pipeline Plans

A state review of Duke Energy's plan to construct a natural gas pipeline through Hamilton County is officially underway.

Investigators with the Ohio Power Siting Board will now scrutinize the need for the Central Corridor Extension, a 13-mile underground pipeline proposed by Duke.

The time has come, too, for opponents to intervene, a step several – including Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commissioners – have vowed to take.

"Now that the siting board has certified Duke's application, the real fight begins," said Jared Newman, a spokesman for the group called Neighbors Opposing Pipeline Extension, which has been critical of the project since early 2016.

NOPE's main point of contention has been safety. The group argues a pipeline of this size should not be routed in largely populated areas near schools, hospital and shopping centers.